Cardinals HC Bruce Arians confirmed what seemed like was coming all week as quarterback Drew Stanton couldn’t practice with a bad knee: Stanton will not be able to play Saturday against the Panthers, and Ryan Lindley will start. Stanton always seemed like a longshot to go anyway as the week went on.

Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim made his usual appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 Monday morning, and had a positive tone when asked about the possibility of Drew Stanton making Saturday’s playoff game with the Panthers.

“At this point it’s day-to-day, but we’re hopeful,” Keim said.

The Cardinals would still likely be underdogs on the road Saturday, but would have a more compelling chance against a suddenly hot Panthers Defense.

Fantasy Impact:

Getting Stanton back would be a huge boost to the Cardinals, who have floundered badly under third-choice Ryan Lindley, the story said. Stanton was recovering well from his previous knee injury when he had to be treated for an infection last week, an infection the team believes was picked up outside its facilities.

Friday, December 26, 2014, 6:53pm

Cardinals QB Drew Stanton (knee, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 17. Ryan Lindley will reportedly start against San Francisco.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport first reported Friday, per two sources informed of the situation, the team discovered an infection Wednesday which required arthroscopic surgery. The infection was believed to have been caused by an outside medical procedure, Rapoport added.

Fantasy Impact:

It appears Ryan Lindley will start against the 49ers. Bruce Arians toyed with the idea of starting Logan Thomas, but changed his mind again earlier in the week.

Arians said he will keep an eye on Rams/Seahawks score on Sunday. Adjust personnel after half if that game is decided.

Fantasy Impact:

Logan Thomas was supposed to get the start but Arians has apparently changed his mind. Arians also said that he's going to adjust his personnel based on the score of the Rams/Seahawks game. If Seattle is winning big by halftime, then the Cardinals can't improve their situation, and starters may rest.

Logan Thomas looks like he’ll get his first NFL start at quarterback.Cardinals coach Bruce Arians reserved the right to alter his thinking as the week goes on, but Monday he said he was “leaning to” giving the rookie out of Virginia Tech the start over Ryan Lindley in the season finale at San Francisco while Drew Stanton continues to heal from his knee injury.

“I think we need to find out what he can do for the future and the playoffs, if it would come to that,” Arians said. “It’s my job to cover every base.
“In no way is it a reflection of the way Ryan played. It’s a chance for Logan to show he could do something.”

Fantasy Impact:

The thing that could derail it would be a shaky week of practice for Thomas, Arians said, according to the story. There will be a “quick hook” for Thomas even in the game if he plays – the Cardinals know they still have a chance to win the NFC West, the story went on. As the story also pointed out, the Cardinals’ offense did not do well with Lindley at the helm. Lindley completed 18-of-44 passes for 216 yards and an interception. Most of the night, his passes were off the mark. The Cardinals have just two touchdowns total in their past five games.

The Cardinals don’t know yet when quarterback Drew Stanton will be able to return from the knee injury he suffered on Thursday.

Asked about a report that Stanton would miss four weeks, Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said it’s simply too soon to say how quickly Stanton will heal.

“I think it’s one of those things with that type of knee injury, everybody heals different,” Keim said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, via ESPN.com. “And I know that ESPN and some other outlets have put a timeline on it. It’s extremely difficult to do. You can say it’s going to be four weeks — I’ve heard people say 1.5 weeks. Everybody heals differently. Drew will be here around the clock rehabbing, and I know he’ll be ready to go as soon as possible.”